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Jun 30, 2022 12:22:42   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Some people say this is a female Red-winged Blackbird...I have even seen that claim in some reference material.

I am not an Ornithologist, not even a layman expert, but I live within a stone's throw of a waterway system where the birds are abundant.

This is my 25th season of photographing them and I have come to believe this is a stage of a juvenile male transitioning into its adult colors.

Regardless of gender, it's my favorite version.


(Download)

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Jun 30, 2022 13:09:18   #
davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
 
Merlin Bird app shows your bird as a female red wing blackbird. They offer no photo of immature birds of either sex. IMHO your photo is a much better representation than the photo in Merlin Bird.

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Jun 30, 2022 13:39:42   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
davidrb wrote:
Merlin Bird app shows your bird as a female red wing blackbird. They offer no photo of immature birds of either sex. IMHO your photo is a much better representation than the photo in Merlin Bird.


As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.

Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.

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Jun 30, 2022 14:21:59   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
joer wrote:
Some people say this is a female Red-winged Blackbird...I have even seen that claim in some reference material.

I am not an Ornithologist, not even a layman expert, but I live within a stone's throw of a waterway system where the birds are abundant.

This is my 25th season of photographing them and I have come to believe this is a stage of a juvenile male transitioning into its adult colors.

Regardless of gender, it's my favorite version.


Everybody is involved in transitioning these days...🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

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Jun 30, 2022 15:40:57   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
joecichjr wrote:
Everybody is involved in transitioning these days...🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺


You got that right.

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Jun 30, 2022 18:55:24   #
gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ
 


George

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Jun 30, 2022 19:39:02   #
BArthur3
 
No comment on the species/gender but 👍👍👍 on the capture.

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Jul 1, 2022 09:02:59   #
davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
 
joer wrote:
As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.

Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.


You pay attention to the Democratic National Party? Education is far more beneficial when it comes from the books you so detest. It is far more accurate than street jive.

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Jul 1, 2022 10:52:20   #
JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles
 
well done.

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Jul 1, 2022 12:11:26   #
Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida
 
I agree. The beautiful markings appeal to me more that the mature males.

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Jul 1, 2022 12:15:36   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
joer wrote:
Some people say this is a female Red-winged Blackbird...I have even seen that claim in some reference material.

I am not an Ornithologist, not even a layman expert, but I live within a stone's throw of a waterway system where the birds are abundant.

This is my 25th season of photographing them and I have come to believe this is a stage of a juvenile male transitioning into its adult colors.

Regardless of gender, it's my favorite version.

Nice shot

Reply
 
 
Jul 1, 2022 12:33:59   #
Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA
 
I too have come to the same conclusion! On some of mine I can see two faint Red patches starting to show through. This is by observation the last 5 years & thinking the same...they have to transition slowly to the mature colors. Striking aren't they?

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Jul 2, 2022 00:52:28   #
RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri
 
joer wrote:
As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.

Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.


There is a FB group called "What Bird is This?" When you submit an image of a bird with an inquiry about its identity, you are asked to provide date and location information. You will get responses from folks who are long time birders.

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Jul 2, 2022 07:19:50   #
Dan Thornton Loc: Corpus Christi, Texas
 
For what it is worth, I think this is a female red-winged blackbird.


(Download)

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Jul 2, 2022 22:06:10   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
davidrb wrote:
You pay attention to the Democratic National Party? Education is far more beneficial when it comes from the books you so detest. It is far more accurate than street jive.


I don't detest books, but because something is written doesn't make it accurate.

So I pulled out my trusty Smithsonian "Birds Of North America, Eastern Regions," page 690, first paragraph toward the middle bottom half, "Male resemble females at a year old but have less streaking and have some red in their epaulettes, they develop glossy black plumage after their second year."

See you were wrong, I don't detest books.

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